Awning operating and control mechanism



Feb. 14, 1961 R. c. KOSLO 2,971,619

AWNING OPERATING AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 1, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. l Roberfi C. Koslo BY $2M, yvfi-dk W I! ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1961 R. c. KOSLO 2,971,619

AWNING OPERATING AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 1, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FL' .10 33-33 g 0 er 0S0 Y m FMZLW wa'w ATTORNEYS United States Patent AWNING OPERATING AND CONTROL MECHANISM Robert C. Koslo, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Astrup Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 1, 1959, Ser. No. 803,396

9 Claims. (Cl. 192-8) The invention relates to an improved mechanism for operating and controlling awnings and the like, wherein provision is made for maintaining the operating means normally locked against operation and wherein the lock is relieved in the operation of the winding handle.

Devices for this general purpose have been provided in the past, in which a pivoted or movable locking member has been provided to drop by gravity to engage an opening, recess or projection on the winding shaft when the operating handle is removed.

Such devices require that, after each operation of the awning, the winding shaft be left in a certain predetermined position in order to assure the positive engagement thereby of the locking means. Also, these devices depend upon gravity alone to move the locking member into locked relation with the winding shaft.

These locking devices are of relatively lightweight, and owing to the effects of corrosion, dirt and the like thereon, it often happens that they will be impeded or prevented from freely dropping into locked position.

It is also necessary in such devices a are now in use, that the operating handle or key be very carefully and gradually withdrawn from the key socket after operation Y of the awning, as otherwise the locking member may fail to drop into locked position, resulting in damage to the awning and/or the operating mechanism.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved awning operating and control mechanism which overcomes the above-stated disadvantages and difficulties.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an awning operating and control mechanism which does not depend upon gravity for moving arelatively light-weight locking device to locked position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an awning-operating mechanism of the character referred to in which the parts are held in locked position by a wedging action.

A still further object is to provide such an awning operating mechanism in which the lock housing is provided with two opposed internally conical back-up rings, within which a pair of truncated conical lock dogs are rotatably mounted, with interengaging means upon the opposite ends of the lock dogs, whereby the weight of the awning transmitted through the awning cords or the like to the winding shaft normally urges the lock dogs into frictional contact with the back-up rings. Another object of the invention is to provide an awningoperating mechanism of the character referred to in which the lock dogs are provided with square sockets to receive the square key portion of the operating handle, one lock dog having a square socket which receives a square end of the winding shaft, the other end of which is fixed to a winding drum or similar mechanism, said square sockets being slightly larger than the square ends of the handle and shaft.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an awnjug-operating mechanism of this character in which op posed faces of the lock dogs are provided with interengaging substantially V-shape lugs and recesses.

A further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary spring between the lock dogs in cases where the awning is of very light weight.

The above and other objects, apparent from the drawings and following description, may be attained, the above describeddifiiculties overcome and the advantages and results obtained, by the apparatus, construction, arrangement and combinations, subcombinations and parts which comprise the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principle, being set forth in detail in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Reference is now made to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the improved awning-operating mechanism, showing the parts in position to raise or lower the awning;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, detached, longitudinal sectional view through the key socket showing the internally coned back-up rings therein and the truncated cone lock dogs with interengaging lug and recess means therebetween for urging the lock dogs into frictional contact with the backup rings, and showing an auxiliary spring washer between the lock dogs;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the outer end of the lock housing and lock means therein;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the inner end of the lock housing and lock means therein;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detached, longitudinal sectional view through one of the lock dogs;

Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the lock dogs;

Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of one of the lock dogs;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, longitudinal section through one of the back-up rings;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the auxiliary spring washer; and, i

Fig. 10 is an edge view of the spring washer.

The improved awning-operating mechanism to which the invention pertains is designed to provide a means which may be operated entirely from within a building or other enclosure for raising or lowering an awning exteriorly of the building.

The operating means is controlled by an operating handle adapted to be applied to one end of the winding shaft for operating said shaft and the winding drum or other mechanism connected thereto. The construction includes novel means for holding the winding shaft against movement and thus holding the awning in fixed position when the operating handle is disconnected from the winding shaft.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the operating means includes the winding shaft 15, which is mounted for rotation within a suitable aperture or bearings formed in a window frame or the like, so that the outer end of the winding shaft may be connected directly to the windLng drum or other mechanism for raising and lowering the awning and the inner end of the shaft engaged by a means by which the shaft may be rotated to operate the awning.

A conventional winding drum 16 is shown connected to the outer end of the winding shaft 15 by means of a square socket 17 in the drum to receive the adjacent end of the square winding shaft 15. The winding drum 16 is rotatably mounted within the drum housing 18 which is adapted to be connected to the outer surface of the window frame 19 or the like, by means of the integral flanges 20 on the inner end of the drum, and the screws 21 located through apertures in said flanges.

A wire cable 22 is connected to the awning control cords or' ropes, and is wound upon the drum one end of said cable being fixed to the drum, as by inserting the same through the radial aperture 23 in the drum and into the end of the threadedbore 24 in the end of the drum, the screw 25 therein engaging said end of the cable and tightly clamping it in the end of the bore 24. The housing 1'8 is open upon its upper side as indicated at 26 to permit movement of the cable 22 therethrough.

Although the invention is illustrated as applied to a winding drum for operating awning cords or ropes, it should be understood that this is for the purpose only of illustrating an application of the invention for operating one type of awning, and that any usual type of awning raising and lowering mechanism may be operatively connected to the winding shaft 15, instead of the winding drum 16, for operating various types of awnings.

The winding shaft 15 extends through the opening 27 in the window frame or the like, the inner end thereof extending into the locking mechanism located within the lock housing 28. Flanges 29 are formed upon the housing 28 through which screws 39 or the like are located for attaching the housing 23 to the inner surface of the window frame 13 or other fixture.

A circular bore 31 is provided in the housing 28 and partially closed at the end thereof away from the window frame by the annular flange or rib 32. A pair of similar, opposed, oppositely coned back-up rings 33 and 33 are located within the bore 31 of the housing, the larger end of the ring 33' contacting the annular flange or rib 32. These back-up rings are preferably formed of powdered iron having 4 to 6% graphite impregnated therein.

Screws 34, located through the other end of the housing 28, are provided with large flat heads 35 which contact the larger end of the back-up ring 33, holding the two back-up rings in contact with each other end to end and holding the larger end of the ring 33 against the annular flange or rib 32 of the housing.

A pair of similar lock dogs 36 and 36 are locate within the back-up rings 33 and 33'. Each of these lock dogs is of substantially the same construction as shown in detail in Figs. 5 to 7. Each lock dog is of truncated conical shape and provided at its larger end, which contacts the larger end of the other lock dog, with a diametrically opposed pair of preferably V-shape lugs 37 and at right angles thereto with a pair of similarly shaped recesses 38 adapted to receive the lugs of the other lock dog. These lock dogs are formed of steel which is hardened by heat treatment. g

A longitudinally disposed square opening 39 is located centrally through each log dog, and circular recesses 46 may be formed in the opposed faces of the two lock dogs surrounding the central opening 39 and inwardly of the lugs 37 and recesses 38.

The square opening or socket 39 in the lock dog as communicates, at the smaller end of said lock dog, with a square opening or socket 41 which receives the adjacent end of the square winding shaft 15. The square socket or opening 41 is located at a 45 angle to the square opening 39, and is slightly larger in cross section than the adjacent square end of the winding shaft 15.

A transversely curved annular auxiliary spring washer 42 may be located between the opposed ends of the lock dogs 36 and 36' within the recesses -iti thereof, in cases where the awning is of very lightweight, and tends to assist in urging said lock dogs apart into wedging frictional contact with the internally coned surfaces of the back-up rings 33 and 33.

A detachable operating handle, indicated generally at 43, is provided with the square key portion 44 adapted to be inserted through the end of the square central opening 39 inthe lockdog 36 and into the square opening 3? in the lock dog 36. The square portion of the handle 4 is of slightly less cross section than the openings 39 in the lock dogs 36 and 36'. a

In the normal position, with the operating handle 43 removed, the weight of the awning pulling upon the awning cords and transmitted through the winding drum and winding shaft urges the lock dogs 36 and 36 in opposite directions, into frictional contact with the corresponding back-up rings 33 and 33', producing a wedging action to prevent rotation of the lock dogs and thus prevent rotation of the winding shaft 15 and winding drum 16, holding the awning in adjusted position.

It will be evident that as the pull of the awning tends to rotate the winding shaft 15, the lock dog 36 will be correspondingly turned, relative to the lock dog 36', and through the shallow V-shape lugs 37 and recesses 38, the lock dogs will be urged in opposite directions, causing them to be wedged against the internally coned back-up rings, holding the winding shaft against rotation and thus holding the awning in adjusted position. In this position the inner end of the square winding shaft being slightly smaller than the square socket 41 in the lock dog 36, will be turned axially within said socket.

When the square key portion 44 of the operating handle is inserted through the square central opening 39 of the lock dog 36' and into the square opening 39 in the lock dog 36, and slightly turned, the play between the winding shaft 15 and square socket 41 will be quickly taken up. When a torque load is applied to the handle, theinterengaging lug and recess means 37.38 on opposed ends of the lock dogs 36 and 36' will urge the two lock dogs back into phase permitting free rotation thereof. The handle may then be easily rotated, rotating the lock dog 36 and through it the lock dog 36, the winding shaft 15 and winding drum 16 therewith to raise or lower the awning to desired adjusted position;

When the operating handle is removed, the pull of the awning will automatically move the lock dogs again slightly in opposite directions, as above described, again frictionally wedging the same within the back-up rings so as to prevent rotation thereof.

As the projections 37 and recesses 33 of the lock dogs still remain in engagement with each other, the lock dogs are thus prevented from rotation, holding the winding shaft 15 and winding drum 16 against movement, so as to hold'the' awning in adjusted position, as above described.

From the above it will be apparent that the awning may be completely controlled from inside the building or other structure on which the awning is placed, making it unnecessary to reach outside the window in orderto properly adjust the awning. V a j The improved awning-operating mechanism may be applied to any structure with which the use of an awning is desired. It should also be understood that the winding drum is illustrated as a meansfor controlling the usual rope-governed awning and as illustrated, is intended to indicate any and all conventional means by which an awning curtain, or the like may be operated, that is to say, the winding shaft is intended to operate the operating mechanism provided for directly raising and lowering the awning or the like, and any and all conventional means for this purpose will be connected to'the winding shaft within the spirit of the invention.

It will be further apparent that the new and improved lock means to which the invention pertains overcomes the disadvantages and difiiculties of the prior art, providing automatically-operated wedge means for locking the winding shaft against movement, without depending upon gravity for operating relatively light-weight locking members and the like.

In the foregoin'gdes'cription, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. Locking means for an awning operator including a winding shaft adapted to be extended through a fixture from the outer side to the inner side thereof, and

an awning operating mechanism operated by the outer end of the winding shaft, said locking means comprising a locking housing attached to the inner side of said fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding shaft, there being oppositely disposed internally coned surfaces within said locking housing, a pair of oppositely disposed truncated conical lock dogs rotatably mounted within said internally coned surfaces, means attaching one of said lock dogs to the inner end of said winding shaft, interengaging lug and recess means on the opposed ends of said lock dogs for urging the lock dogs in opposite directions and into frictional contact with said internally coned surfaces when a torque load is applied to said one lock dog through the Winding shaft, an operating handle, and means for detachably connecting said operating handle to the lock dogs for applying a torque load in the opposite direction to said other lock dog for causing said lug and recess means to urge the lock dogs toward each other for rotating said lock dogs.

. 2. Locking means for an awning operator including a winding shaft adapted to be extended through a fixture from the outer side to the inner side thereof, and an awning operating mechanism operated by the outer end of the winding shaft, said locking means comprising a locking housing attached to the inner side of said fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding shaft, oppositely disposed internally coned back-up rings within said locking housing, a pair of oppositely disposed truncated conical lock dogs rotatably mounted within said internally coned surfaces, means attaching one of said lock dogs to the inner end of said winding shaft, interengaging lug and recess means on the opposed ends of said lock dogs for urging the lock dogs in opposite directions and into frictional contact with said internally coned surfaces when a torque load is applied to said one lock dog through the winding shaft, an operating handle, and means for detachably connecting said operating handle to the lock dogs for applying a torque load in the opposite direction to said other lock dog for causing said lug and recess means to urge the lock dogs toward each other for rotating said lock dogs.

3. Locking means for an awning operator including a winding shaft adapted to be extended through a fixture from the outer side to the inner side thereof, and an awning operating mechanism operated by the outer end of the winding shaft, said locking means comprising a locking housing attached to the inner side of said fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding shaft, there being oppositely disposed internally coned surfaces within said locking housing, a pair of oppositely disposed truncated conical lock dogs rotatably mounted within said internally coned surfaces, means attaching one of said lock dogs to the inner end of said winding shaft, interengaging substantially V-shape lug and recess means on the opposed ends of said lock dogs for urging the lock dogs in opposite directions and into frictional contact with said internally coned surfaces when a torque load is applied to said one lock dog through the winding shaft, an opcrating handle, and means for detachably connecting said operating handle to the lock dogs for applying a torque load in the opposite direction to said other lock dog for causing said lug and recess means to urge the lock dogs toward each other for rotating said lock dogs.

4. Locking means for an awning operator including a winding shaft adapted to be extended through a fixture from the outer side to the inner side thereof, and an awning operating mechanism operated by the outer end of the winding shaft, said locking means comprising a locking housing attached to the inner side of said fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding shaft, op, positely disposed internally coned back-up rings within said locking housing, a pair of oppositely disposed truncated conical lock dogs rotatably mounted within said internally coned surfaces, means attaching one of said lock dogs to the inner end ofsaid winding shaft, interengaging substantially V-shape lug and recess means on the opposed ends of said lock dogs for urging the lock dogs in opposite directions and into frictional contact with said internally coned surfaces when a torque load is applied to said one lock dog through the winding shaft, an operating handle, and means for detachably connecting said operating handle to the lock dogs for applying a torque load in the opposite direction to said other lock'dog for causing said lug and recess means to urge the lock dogs toward each other for rotating said lock dogs.

5. Locking means for an awning operator including a Winding shaft adapted to be extended through a fixture from the outer side to the inner side thereof, and an awning operating mechanism operated by the outer end of the windingshaft, said locking means comprising a locking housing attached to the inner side of said fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding shaft, said inner end of the winding shaftbeing square in cross section, there being oppositely disposed internally coned surfaces within said locking housing, a pair of oppositely disposed truncated conical lock dogs rotatably mounted Within said internally coned surfaces, one of said lock dogs having a square socket of slightly larger cross section than the winding shaft, the inner end of the winding shaft being located in said socket, interengaging lug and recess means on the opposed ends of said lock dogs for urging the lock dogs in opposite directions and into frictional contact with said internally coned surfaces when a torque load is applied to said one lock dog through the winding shaft, an operating handle, and means for detachably connecting said operating handle to the lock dogs for applying a torque load in the opposite direction to said other lock dog for causing said lug and recess means to urge the lock dogs toward each other for rotating said lock dogs.

6. Locking means for an awning operator including a winding shaft adapted to be extended through a fixture from the outer side to the inner side thereof, and an awning operating mechanism operated by the outer end of the winding shaft, said locking means comprising a locking housing attached to the inner side of said fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding shaft, said inner end of the winding shaft being square in cross section, there being oppositely disposed internally coned surfaces within said locking housing, a' pair of oppositely disposed truncated conical lock dogs rotatably mounted within said internally coned surfaces, one of said lock dogs having a square socket of slightly larger cross section than the winding shaft, the inner end of the'winding shaft being located in said socket, interengaging substantially V-shape lug ad recess means on the opposed ends of said lock dogs for urging the lock dogs in opposite directions and into frictional contact with said internally coned surfaces when a torque load is applied to said one lock dog through the winding shaft, an operating handle, and means for detachably connecting said operating handle to the lock dogs for applying a torque load in "7 the opposite direction to said other lock dog for causing said lug and recess means to urge the lock dogs toward each other for rotating said lock dogs.

7. Locking means for an awning operator including a winding shaft adapted to be extended through a fixture from the outer side to the inner side thereof, and an awning operating mechanism operated by the outer end of the winding shaft, said locking means comprising a locking housing attached to the inner side of said fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding shaft, said inner end of the winding shaft being square in cross section, oppositely disposed internally coned back-up rings within said locking housing, a pair of oppositely disposed truncated conical lock dogs rotatably mounted within said internally coned surfaces, one of said lock dogs having a square socket of slightly larger cross section than the winding shaft,the inner end of the winding shaft being located in said socket, interengaging lug and recess means on the opposed ends of said lock dogs for urging the lock dogs in opposite directions and into frictional cont act with said internally coned surfaces when a torque load is applied to said one lock dog through the winding shaft, an operating handle, and means for detachably connecting said operating handle to the lock dogs for applying a torque load in the opposite direction to said other lock dog for causing said lug and recess means to urge the lock dogs toward each other for rotating said lock dogs.

8. Locking means for an awning operator including a winding shaft adapted to be extended through a' fixture from the outer side to the inner side thereof, and an awning operating mechanism operated by-the outer end of the winding shaft, said locking means comprising a locking housing attached tothe inner side of said fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding 'shaft, said inner end of the winding shaft being 'squarerin cross section, oppositely disposed internally coned back-up rings within said locking housing, a pair of oppositely disposed truncated conical lock dogs trotatably mounted within said internally coned surfaces, one of said lock dogs having a square socket of slightly larger cross section than the Winding shaft, the inner end of" the winding shaft being located in said socket, interengaging substantially V-shape lug and recess means on the opposed ends of said lock dogs for urging the lock dogs in 01;-

posits directions and into frictional contact with said internally coned surfaces when a torque load is applied to said one lock dog throu'gh'the winding shaft, an operating handle, and means for det'achably connecting said operating handleto the lock dogs for applying a torque load in the opposite direction to said other lock dog for causing said lug and recess means to urgethe lock dogs toward :each other for rotating said lock dogs.

9. Locking means for an awning operator including a winding shaft adapted 'to be extended through a fixture from the outer side to the inner side thereof, and an awning operating mechanism operated by the outer end of the winding shaft, said locking means comprising a lockinghousing attached to the inner side of said fixture and encircling the inner end of the winding shaft, there being opp'ositelydisposed internally coned surfaces within said locking housing, a pair 'of'opp'ositely disposed truncated conical lock dogs rotatably mounted within said internally coned surfaces, means attaching one of said lock dogs to the inner end of said winding shaft, interengaging lug and recess-means on the opposed ends of said lock dogs-for urging the lock dogs in'opposite directions and into frictional contact with said internally coned surfaces when a torque load is applied to said one lock dog through the winding shaft, spring means interposed between said lock dogs to assist in urging the lock dogs in opposite directions, anroperating handle, and means for detachably connecting said operating handle to the lock dogs for applying a torque load in the opposite direction to said other lockdog for causing said lug and recess means tourg'e the lock dogs toward each other for rotating said lock dogs.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V V Roth Mar. 7 ,1922 

